“One-size-fits-all punishments do not reduce crime, and every dollar spent locking up low-level drug offenders is a dollar that can’t be used to punish dangerous criminals,” said Greg Newburn, FAMM’s State Policy Director. “We thank Senator Brandes and Representative Diamond for supporting a judicial safety valve – a commonsense solution to a problem long overdue for reform.”

“With the State of Florida housing nearly 100,000 inmates and costing taxpayers nearly $2.4 billion every year, the legislature must address the problematic prison population, and one way to do that is reforming mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenses,” said Chelsea Murphy, Right on Crime’s Florida state director. “These minimum sentences are often unnecessarily severe, even for those with no prior criminal record.”

“Florida sentences thousands of offenders to unreasonably long prison sentences for illegally possessing or selling small amounts of prescription opioids,” said Lauren Krisai, Director of Criminal Justice Reform at Reason Foundation and author of the JMI policy brief, “Smart on Sentencing: Safety Valve for Florida’s Drug Trafficking Offenses.” “A judicial safety valve would allow courts to divert offenders with substance abuse problems into drug treatment, which is more effective and less expensive than prison.”

RIGHT ON CRIME is a national campaign to promote successful, conservative solutions on American criminal justice policy—reforming the system to ensure public safety, shrink government, and save taxpayers money. By sharing research and policy ideas and mobilizing strong conservative voices, we work to raise awareness of the growing support for effective reforms within the conservative movement. We are transforming the debate on criminal justice in America.